Opinion

One of the hardest things for victims of sexual assault to do is taking that first step to reach out to others to talk — especially when the two (or more) people involved know each other. Our instinct — whether it’s our friend, coworker, or family member — can be to hold our ears, cover our eyes, and keep the status quo. Often it is to blame the victim, or to hope they just “get over it.”

One of the hardest things for victims of sexual assault to do is taking that first step to reach out to others to talk — especially when the two (or more) people involved know each other. Our instinct — whether it’s our friend, coworker, or family member — can be to hold our ears, cover our eyes, and keep the status quo. Often it is to blame the victim, or to hope they just “get over it.”

To celebrate Earth Day this year, you can take many different steps to help protect the Earth we live on. You can involve yourself in one of the many Earth Day network campaigns by checking out earthday.org. You can do something as simple as utilizing a reusable water bottle or turning off the water while you brush your teeth, or even planting a tree.

These are trying times around the the world as acts of terror and political rancor are at an all time high. Let’s unite — for the next few weeks at least — to honor peace, love, sacrifice and a time of growth and renewal, which all of us need.

It is no secret that the development of housing—whether its market rate, affordable, or a combination of both—is an economic driver. Housing development plays an important role in economic recovery … read more